Batelco Group Investment Grade Credit Rating Affirmed by Fitch

Mobilk - Batelco Group (Ticker: BATELCO), the regional telecommunications operator of reference with operations across six countries, today announced that Fitch Ratings, a leading global credit ratings agency, has affirmed the Group’s investment grade credit rating in line with  the underlying strength of its strategy, financial position and operating performance. 

The Group’s Long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) remains BBB- with a Stable outlook. According to Fitch, the ratings reflect Batelco’s market leading position in Bahrain and sound performance across its overseas markets of operations. This is despite significant competitive pressures at home and other challenges, which have impacted the MENA markets.  

These ratings are also indicative of the Group’s healthy financial position and strong liquidity profile. Specifically Fitch highlights the Group’s robust free cash flow (FCF) and pre-dividend FCF generation levels, which put Batelco amongst the strongest of its peers in the Middle East. 

Fitch’s report also affirms the strength of the Group’s strategy both in term of its ability to manage and derive value from its current operations as well as its stated strategy for further building its network and achieving growth in its mobile and broadband operations in complementary overseas markets. 

Commenting on the announcement, Group CEO, Shaikh Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa, said: “We’re pleased to announce that Fitch Ratings has affirmed Batelco Group’s investment grade credit rating. Our strong credit quality reflects our ongoing success in maintaining market leadership in the Kingdom of Bahrain across all segments, despite strong competitive pressures, as well as the progress we continue to make in our overseas markets, which are steadily growing and enhancing their contributions to the Group’s top and bottom line 

He continued: “The affirmation of our credit quality also underscores the Group’s strong financial management and the policies we have put in place to achieve cost leadership and to maximise results. After another full review of the Group’s operations and performance, we are pleased with Fitch’s assessment of the overall health of our financial position and the strength of our balance sheet. Quarter after quarter, we continue to show our ability to maintain sound levels of profitability and to generate significant cash flows. As a result, we remain well placed to deliver on our commitments to shareholders and to continue to invest in the expansion of our network and the further diversification of our business in growth markets as we go forth.”

In addition to Fitch’s affirmation of the Group’s credit rating, Standard & Poor’s Rating Services similarly affirmed the Group’s investment grade credit rating in July 2012 with a “BBB-” long-term rating and an “A-3” short-term foreign and local currency corporate credit rating. 

For the nine-month period ending 30 September 2012, Batelco Group had low debt and substantial cash and bank balance of BD 87M (US$ 231M).